CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Russell Westbrook got the numbers. The Charlotte Hornets got the win.
Faced with how to defend most valuable player candidate Westbrook, the Hornets chose to guard the Oklahoma City Thunder point guard with small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Westbrook finished with 33 points and 15 rebounds, but he shot 10-of-33 from the field in the Hornets' 123-112 victory Wednesday night at the Spectrum Center.
The victory broke a two-game losing streak for the Hornets, who improved to 20-16. The Thunder dropped to 21-15.
Hornets shooting guard Nic Batum scored 28 points, getting to the foul line 15 times. Point guard Kemba Walker added 20.
The Thunder got 22 points from reserve center Enes Kanter. Victor Oladipo and Steve Adams each scored 18 for Oklahoma City.
The Hornets finished with 49 free-throw attempts to the Thunder's 23.
